Diwali
/dɪˈwɑːli/noun
उच्चारण डिवाली
दीवाली, दीपावली
Basic word
- 1
[U, C]
the Hindu festival of lights, celebrated in October or November, when people light lamps, worship the goddess Lakshmi and give sweets and presents; it is also celebrated by Sikhs and Jains
दीवाली, दीपावली
- We clean and decorate the whole house before Diwali.
- Radhika lit rows of clay lamps on Diwali night.
- Happy Diwali!
+ 3 more examples
- Shops stay open late in the weeks before Diwali.
- Children burst crackers and eat sweets on Diwali.
- We visit our relatives and exchange gifts at Diwali.
§Structures (grammar patterns) 4
Diwali (proper noun, no article)
Diwali is a proper noun, so it is written with a capital letter and normally takes no article: 'at Diwali', 'during Diwali'.
'Diwali' proper noun है, इसलिए capital letter से लिखा जाता है और सामान्यतः article नहीं लगता: 'at Diwali', 'during Diwali'।
- Radhika's family cleans the house before Diwali.
- Schools in many states close for a week during Diwali.
at / on / during Diwali
Use on for the main day, during for the whole festive period, and at when the occasion is seen as a time of year.
मुख्य दिन के लिए 'on', पूरे उत्सव काल के लिए 'during', और अवसर को वर्ष के समय के रूप में देखने पर 'at' का प्रयोग होता है।
- Lakshmi Puja is performed on Diwali night.
- Sweet shops are very busy during Diwali.
Diwali + noun
Diwali is often used as a modifier, as in Diwali holidays, Diwali sweets or Diwali bonus.
'Diwali' प्रायः modifier की तरह आता है, जैसे Diwali holidays, Diwali sweets।
- Employees receive a Diwali bonus every year.
- The Diwali sale starts on Monday.
celebrate / wish + Diwali
You celebrate Diwali, and you wish someone a happy Diwali; you do not 'play' or 'make' it.
आप Diwali 'मनाते' हैं (celebrate), और 'Happy Diwali' की शुभकामना देते हैं; 'play' या 'make' नहीं कहते।
- We celebrate Diwali with lamps and sweets.
- She wished her teacher a happy Diwali.
+Collocations 4
Diwali + noun
holidayssweetslightsbonusrangolishoppingcrackers
- The streets were bright with Diwali lights.
verb + Diwali
celebratewelcomeprepare fordecorate forwait for
- Families decorate their homes to welcome Diwali.
adjective + Diwali
happyeco-friendlytraditionalquietgrand
- This year we had an eco-friendly Diwali without fireworks.
festival of
festival of lightsfestival of joyfestival of prosperity
- Diwali, the festival of lights, marks the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya.
“More examples 5
- Radhika lit twelve diyas on the balcony on Diwali evening.
राधिका ने दीवाली की शाम बालकनी में बारह दीये जलाए।
- During Diwali, the sky is full of colour and sound.
दीवाली के दौरान आकाश रंगों और आवाज़ों से भर जाता है।
- Many shopkeepers open new account books on Diwali.
कई दुकानदार दीवाली के दिन नई बही-खाता किताबें शुरू करते हैं।
- Air quality drops sharply in several cities after Diwali.
दीवाली के बाद कई शहरों में वायु की गुणवत्ता तेज़ी से गिर जाती है।
- She sent greeting cards to all her friends before Diwali.
उसने दीवाली से पहले अपने सभी मित्रों को बधाई कार्ड भेजे।
!Common mistakes 3
✗ We play Diwali with crackers.
✓ We celebrate Diwali with crackers.
The verb for a festival is celebrate, not play.
त्योहार के लिए verb 'celebrate' है, 'play' नहीं।
✗ We will go to our village in the Diwali.
✓ We will go to our village at Diwali.
Festival names normally take no article, and at is the usual preposition for the festival season.
त्योहारों के नाम के साथ सामान्यतः article नहीं लगता, और उत्सव काल के लिए 'at' आता है।
✗ Diwali are my favourite festival.
✓ Diwali is my favourite festival.
Diwali is singular, so the verb is is.
'Diwali' एकवचन है, इसलिए verb 'is' होगा।
✓In the exam
General knowledge
Diwali marks the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile, and in South India it is usually called Deepavali.
दीवाली चौदह वर्ष के वनवास के बाद भगवान राम के अयोध्या लौटने की खुशी में मनाई जाती है, और दक्षिण भारत में इसे प्रायः Deepavali कहा जाता है।